This book is the 4th in a series of Acute Care books written with
the aim to address the NEEDS of health care providers when handling
the acutely ill patients. Globally it has become apparent that the
study of pharmacology and subsequent clinical training has not
always adequately equipped young doctors with the ability to
administer drugs to their patients safely and confidently,
particularly in the critically ill patient. Compounding this issue
is the lack of resource material related to these pharmacological
concepts contained in one book that can help health care providers
to understand and manage drug therapy in the acute situation. In
spite of progressively newer and more developed protocols,
guidelines, algorithms and many other books addressing the
technical aspects of what needs to be done, most health care
providers still find it difficult to grasp the basic
pharmacological knowledge and rationally deliver the CARE that is
required in the acute phase of patient management. The
editors/authors have therefore aimed for a book that highlights
topics and pharmacological issues pertinent to management of
patients in their hour of need. This is a multi-author book but the
style has been guided by 3 editors. The editors have used a
different perspective - that of normalizing abnormal physiological
processes with pharmacological agents - to address the GAPS in a
bedside to bench approach. The details are pared down but important
principles/concepts are emphasized.